Today the W&W's 98 and 58 were supposed to be towed to Greenbank cold as a backdrop to a $350K check handover ceremony from the local county to the railroad for food relief. Did anybody get pics? Could you post them here? 98 must be pretty close to test firing if it was all back together for this event. I hope they didn't goof the engine up with bad paint this time.

That picture is great! I can't wait for 98 to return to operation-what a gem.

> That picture is great! I can't wait for 98
> to return to operation-what a gem.

It sounds like #98 could be test fired in about a month. Just some little things to finish, already passed required inpections.

http://www.wwrr.com
railspast@aol.com

Nice photo! The thought occurred to me that for a fairly cheap price the w and w could have nice brass reproductions of an Alco 98 plate and a Baldwin 58 plate fabricated, instead of the generic number plates...they would look so much better! Go the extra mile guys and do it right, please, especially on such a majestic loco as the 98. Also I saw the yellow on 98's cut lever...please don't get carried away with too much yellow guys. It will goof the engine up. Yellow paint in the hands of volunteers can get out of hand real quick. If your men and women know their safety rules and know where the cut lever is, there is no need to paint it (or the angle cock) yellow. They should know where it is. Strasburg doesn't paint their cut levers yellow and they get along fine. The Phantom Aeshtetic is waiting to see how you letter and number the engine...I am praying that it looks good and doesn't get goofed up. Please use railroad roman on the tender and a nice 98 on the cab with a minimum of striping to accent. Thin imitation gold pinstripes on the drivers would look great (but optional), just as she had in the late 70's/early 80's. You guys get an A+ for using graphite on the smokebox--it looks so much better than black paint! I hope you put graphite on the firebox as well. Please power polish the rods instead of painting them, like Strasburg. If you do, they will look top notch. Just a few pieces of cosmetic advice from The Phantom Aesthetic.

You know Mr. Phantom Aesthetic, if you're such an expert, why hide behind an alias?

Do you realize how much was involved in the first place to get the funding needed to even begin the restoration of 98? Your interpretation of "a fairly cheap price" might be an astronomical sum to an organization that runs on the dedication and sweat of a group of volunteers.

Those who have worked for so long on the restoration of 98 have not only contributed many hours of their lives, but have also dug deep into their own wallets to contribute needed tools, paint and other materials to bring 98 to the point she is today.

So instead of criticizing, first of all, get your facts straight - because as a matter of fact, 98 is still a work in progress - the parts painted yellow you take such offense to - have not even been touched by THIS restoration team. They have been painted that lovely color for years. Secondly, realize that the W&W is also still struggling to meet day-to-day expenses while trying to recover from the devastating flooding of September 2003.

You offer to pay for the polish and pinstriping, and donate YOUR time and heard-earned money to the restoration, then you can criticize all you want. Until then, how about some appreciation for a job well done by a dedicated group of volunteers whose only pay for the job has been in the satisfaction of seeing 98 see the first light of day, while awaiting her return to active service??

We can never begin to compete with the profitable Strasburg RR, but you wonÂ’t find a group of people more dedicated to the history and preservation than those volunteers who devote their lives to the Wilmington & Western RR.

So, tell us, Mr. Darling, since you are "in the know" what are the plans to paint up 98? When you say the yellow parts are lovely, does that mean more yellow paint is on the way? Yikes!!

Yes you and your crew are doing a good job so far. My job is to make you think and I have succeeded. I'm sorry if you are angry about my observations. But keep up the good work. We are proud of you.

> You know Mr. Phantom Aesthetic, if you're
> such an expert, why hide behind an alias?

> Do you realize how much was involved in the
> first place to get the funding needed to
> even begin the restoration of 98? Your
> interpretation of "a fairly cheap
> price" might be an astronomical sum to
> an organization that runs on the dedication
> and sweat of a group of volunteers.

> Those who have worked for so long on the
> restoration of 98 have not only contributed
> many hours of their lives, but have also dug
> deep into their own wallets to contribute
> needed tools, paint and other materials to
> bring 98 to the point she is today.

> So instead of criticizing, first of all, get
> your facts straight - because as a matter of
> fact, 98 is still a work in progress - the
> parts painted yellow you take such offense
> to - have not even been touched by THIS
> restoration team. They have been painted
> that lovely color for years. Secondly,
> realize that the W&W is also still
> struggling to meet day-to-day expenses while
> trying to recover from the devastating
> flooding of September 2003.

> You offer to pay for the polish and
> pinstriping, and donate YOUR time and
> heard-earned money to the restoration, then
> you can criticize all you want. Until then,
> how about some appreciation for a job well
> done by a dedicated group of volunteers
> whose only pay for the job has been in the
> satisfaction of seeing 98 see the first
> light of day, while awaiting her return to
> active service??

> We can never begin to compete with the
> profitable Strasburg RR, but you wonÂ’t find
> a group of people more dedicated to the
> history and preservation than those
> volunteers who devote their lives to the
> Wilmington & Western RR.

MRS. Darling is right in all that she says. If you are going to criticize something, make yourself known as well as your presence at the shops! I think the last thing that should be concidered with 98 is her paint job. It is just my guess, since you are so concerned, that 98 will come out looking pretty much the same as 58. But in all seriousness, be glad that the engine is coming out the door. I remember when the first flood hit in 99, they didnt know what was going to happen with the railroad let alone 98 which had been out of service for over a year at that point. Now, she is close to heading out the door, despite loss of revenue since the current flood and all the while crews are busting their arse to get more of the line reopend with little bits of revenue coming in. And for all out there that think getting the government to foot the bill to restore the railroad is easy....you need to go talk to W&W's Executive Director , he can tell you some stories!

Darn right congrats to the W&W shop volunteers and staff for doing what they can when they can and in my (and many other peoples) opinion, doing a DA*N good job! Many people thought after the first flood they were done, now after 2 MAJOR floods, they are still alive and kicking goes to show what people who get down and do the gritty work can do, not just the talkers.

So, tell us, MR PHANTOM, when will they see you down at the shops?....I gave 13 years to the railroad befor my job took me away...what have you given?

> So, tell us, Mr. Darling, since you are
> "in the know" what are the plans
> to paint up 98? When you say the yellow
> parts are lovely, does that mean more yellow
> paint is on the way? Yikes!!

> Yes you and your crew are doing a good job
> so far. My job is to make you think and I
> have succeeded. I'm sorry if you are angry
> about my observations. But keep up the good
> work. We are proud of you.


ieishalle23@aol.com

I should have said, HELP foot the bill in regard to government assistance. FEMA and DELDOT require matching funding which the W&W has gone about with fervor to obtain....another job in progress well done...kudos to the BOD and again the Executive Director and his assistant for taking on that task among many many others

ieishalle23@aol.com

I agree with K. Darling's comments. The Phantom Aesthetic should go easy on the Wilmington & Western, its volunteers and No. 98! The W&W is a resourceful group of folks who have performed miracles. Just when you think the railroad is down and out, it comes back swinging! I used to be a volunteer there in the late 80's and they have a wonderful route and equipment to go with it. They should paint No. 98 any way they choose. I can't wait to see her under steam again, and teamed up with No. 58! Good work, folks.

K.R. Bell

> Nice photo! The thought occurred to me that
> for a fairly cheap price the w and w could
> have nice brass reproductions of an Alco 98
> plate and a Baldwin 58 plate fabricated,
> instead of the generic number plates...they
> would look so much better! Go the extra mile
> guys and do it right, please, especially on
> such a majestic loco as the 98. Also I saw
> the yellow on 98's cut lever...please don't
> get carried away with too much yellow guys.
> It will goof the engine up. Yellow paint in
> the hands of volunteers can get out of hand
> real quick. If your men and women know their
> safety rules and know where the cut lever
> is, there is no need to paint it (or the
> angle cock) yellow. They should know where
> it is. Strasburg doesn't paint their cut
> levers yellow and they get along fine. The
> Phantom Aeshtetic is waiting to see how you
> letter and number the engine...I am praying
> that it looks good and doesn't get goofed
> up. Please use railroad roman on the tender
> and a nice 98 on the cab with a minimum of
> striping to accent. Thin imitation gold
> pinstripes on the drivers would look great
> (but optional), just as she had in the late
> 70's/early 80's. You guys get an A+ for
> using graphite on the smokebox--it looks so
> much better than black paint! I hope you put
> graphite on the firebox as well. Please
> power polish the rods instead of painting
> them, like Strasburg. If you do, they will
> look top notch. Just a few pieces of
> cosmetic advice from The Phantom Aesthetic.

There you go, again making statements without knowing all the facts. A MR I am not!

And as I have been one of the ones who have been working on 98 for the last 8 months, yes, I'd say that puts me somewhat "in the know".

Your "job"??? A self-appointed position, I have no doubt.